Optical information recording/reproducing apparatus and method for using both disc cartridges holding 8cm and 12cm disc

ABSTRACT

An optical recording/reproducing apparatus capable of using disc cartridges of at least two different sizes and/or a naked disc, on only one tray. The optical recording/reproducing apparatus is also capable of recording and/or reproducing information on/from one of the discs mounted on the tray by automatically detecting the disc cartridges and/or the naked disc positioned on the tray. The optical recording/reproducing apparatus has a case, a tray mounted to the case capable of being received and withdrawn into/from the case, and selectively accommodating disc cartridges of at least two different sizes, a support to support the disc cartridges positioned on the tray according to the size of the disc cartridges, a detection unit to detect the sizes of the disc cartridges positioned on the tray and the state of the discs accommodated in the disc cartridges, a rotating unit to rotate the discs in the disc cartridges positioned on the tray, and a recording/reproducing unit to record information on and/or reproduce the information from the discs rotated by the rotating unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Application Nos.97-72622, filed Dec. 23, 1997; 98-14877, filed Apr. 25, 1998; and98-18685, filed May 23, 1998, in the Korean Patent Office, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an optical recording/reproducingoptical apparatus and method thereof, capable of using disc cartridgesof difference sizes, i.e., one of which holds a disc having a diameterof 12 cm, and another one which holds a disc having a diameter of 8 cm,by positioning the disc cartridges on one tray.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Generally, there are two kinds of disc cartridges foraccommodating discs of different sizes, i.e., one which holds a dischaving a diameter of 12 cm (hereinafter called a 12 cm disc cartridge),and another one which holds a disc having a diameter of 8 cm(hereinafter called a 8 cm disc cartridge or a smaller cartridge). Suchdisc cartridges have an accommodating hole through which a turn table,and a chucking clamp of an optical recording/reproducing apparatus areadvanced. The accommodating hole communicates with an opening whichserves as a feeding passage to an optical pickup device. A shutter ismounted on each disc cartridge to open/close both the accommodating holeand the opening.

[0006] The optical recording/reproducing apparatus has means forrotating the disc at a speed that the information can berecorded/reproduced thereon/therefrom, an optical pickup device moved ina radial direction of the rotating disc while radiating a laser beam onthe disc, and a signal processing section for processing the informationdetected by the laser beam radiated from the optical pickup device.

[0007] Thus, when the disc cartridge is advanced in the opticalrecording/reproducing apparatus, the shutter of the disc cartridge ismoved in a direction so that the shutter exposes the accommodating holeand the opening of the disc cartridge. Then, the turn table and thechucking clamp are advanced through the accommodating hole to positionand chuck the disc. Continuously, the optical pickup device is linearlyand reciprocally moved in a radial direction of the disc (mounted in thedisc cartridge) along the opening while recording/reproducing theinformation on/from the disc.

[0008] However, since the conventional optical recording/reproducingapparatus is capable of using only one kind of disc cartridge, there isa problem in compatibility, i.e., both of the 12 cm and 8 cm discscannot be used therein.

[0009] Further, if both 12 cm and 8 cm discs are to be used, respectiveoptical recording/reproducing apparatuses for the respective disccartridges have to be provided, and as a result, the cost accordinglyincreases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention has been made to overcome theabove-described problems, and accordingly, it is an object of thepresent invention to provide an optical recording/reproducing apparatuscapable of using a 12 cm disc cartridge, a smaller disc cartridge, i.e.,an 8 cm disc cartridge and/or an adapter by selectively positioning thesame on only one tray.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide an opticalrecording/reproducing apparatus capable of using an adapter foraccommodating an 8 cm disc and a naked disc as well as a 12 cm disccartridge and an 8 cm disc cartridge by selectively positioning the sameon only one tray.

[0012] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide amethod of an optical recording/reproducing apparatus for automaticallydetecting which of disc cartridges, an adapter, and a naked disc(without a disc cartridge) is positioned on the tray at a given time,and automatically performing information recording and reproducingprocesses according to the detected result.

[0013] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be setforth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will beobvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of theinvention.

[0014] The above objects of the present invention will be accomplishedby providing an optical recording/reproducing apparatus including acase, a tray mounted to the case and capable of being received andwithdrawn into/from the case, and selectively accommodating disccartridges of at least two different sizes, means for supporting thedisc cartridges positioned on the tray according to the sizes of thedisc cartridges, means for detecting the sizes of the disc cartridgespositioned on the tray and a state of discs accommodated in the disccartridges, means for rotating the discs in the disc cartridgespositioned on the tray, and means for recording and/or reproducinginformation on and/or from the disc rotated by the rotating means.

[0015] The optical recording/reproducing apparatus according to thepresent invention further includes means for opening/closing shuttersmounted on the disc cartridges in response to the receiving/withdrawingof the tray with respect to the case, and means for pressing hubs of therespective discs accommodated in the disc cartridges, thus chucking thediscs onto the rotational means.

[0016] The support means includes a press member contacting with, andthus, pressing a side of either a 12 cm disc cartridge and a smallerdisc cartridge positioned on the tray, a holding member mechanism forholding both sides of the smaller disc cartridge, thus preventing aminute movement of the smaller disc cartridge positioned on the tray,and a horizontality member mechanism maintaining a horizontalorientation of the smaller disc cartridge with respect to a bottom ofthe tray.

[0017] The detecting section includes a first detecting part detectingthe size of the 12 cm disc cartridge and the state of a discaccommodated therein, and a second detecting part detecting the size ofthe smaller disc cartridge and the state of a disc accommodated therein.

[0018] The first detecting part includes a plurality of first detectingholes formed on the tray corresponding to sensor holes of the 12 cm disccartridge, and sense switches attached to a deck base, to be insertedinto the sensor holes of the 12 cm disc cartridge through the firstdetecting holes.

[0019] The second detecting part includes at least one leaf switchattached to the deck base, exposed through guide grooves of the tray,the leaf switch detecting the size of the smaller disc cartridgepositioned on the tray, by being selectively in contact with contactportions of press rods which are moved along guide apertures and thusturned on/off, a plurality of second detecting holes formed on the traycorresponding to sensor holes of the smaller disc cartridge, and aphoto-sensor attached to the deck base, detecting the state of the discaccommodated in the smaller disc cartridge by radiating a laser beamthrough the second detecting holes to the sensor holes of the smallerdisc cartridge, and receiving the laser beam. The photo-sensor includesa light emitting element radiating the laser beam to a diffusion lensinserted into a fitting hole of an opening cover through a seconddetecting hole of the tray and a pierce hole of a smaller disc cartridgecase, a plurality of light receiving elements disposed at positionscorresponding to the sensor holes of the smaller disc cartridge, thelight receiving elements receiving the laser beams transmitted to thesensor holes of the smaller disc cartridge via the diffusion lens, and acircuit board electrically detecting the laser beams received by thelight receiving elements. Here, the light emitting element with thelight receiving element are attached to, thus supported by the circuitboard.

[0020] The optical recording/reproducing apparatus according to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention includes a case, a traymounted to the case capable of being received and withdrawn into/fromthe case, and selectively accommodating disc cartridges of at least twodifferent sizes, means for supporting the disc cartridges positioned onthe tray according to the sizes of the disc cartridges, firstpositioning means for determining the position of the 12 cm disccartridge on the tray and positioning the 12 cm disc cartridge at thedetermined position, a first detecting part detecting a size of the 12cm disc cartridge positioned by the first positioning means, and thestate of the 12 cm disc accommodated in the 12 cm disc cartridge, secondpositioning means for determining the position of the smaller disccartridge on the tray and positioning the smaller disc cartridge at thedetermined position, a second detecting part detecting a size of thesmaller disc cartridge positioned by the second positioning means, andthe state of the 8 cm disc accommodated in the smaller disc cartridge,means for rotating the discs respectively accommodated in the disccartridges positioned on the tray, and means for recording and/orreproducing the information on/from the discs rotated by the rotatingmeans.

[0021] The first positioning means includes a pair of first positioningpin holes formed on the tray corresponding to insert holes of the 12 cmdisc cartridge, and a pair of first positioning pins disposed on a deckbase and to be inserted into the insert holes of the 12 cm disccartridge after passing through the first positioning pin holes.

[0022] The second positioning means includes a pair of secondpositioning pin holes formed on the tray corresponding to insert holesof the smaller disc cartridge, a rotational bracket mounted to the caseby a hinge pin, the rotational bracket having a pair of secondpositioning pins to be inserted into the insert holes of the smallerdisc cartridge after passing through the second positioning pin holes,and means for rotating the rotational bracket upward and downward,wherein the rotating means is automatically operated through signalssensed by the second detecting part to move a rotational bracket. Therotational bracket rotating means includes a slider to be reciprocallymoved along guide protrusions protruded from the bottom of the case in alinear direction, a driving motor, driving means for driving the slider,to be turned on/off in accordance with a signal sensed by the seconddetecting part, and a power transmitter transmitting a driving powerfrom the driving motor to the slider.

[0023] A method of optical recording/reproducing apparatus according tothe preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of(a) detecting whether a disc cartridge received in a tray is positioned,(b) moving recording/reproducing means to an initial position, (c)detecting a size of the disc cartridge positioned on the tray, (d)detecting whether a disc accommodated in the disc cartridge is asingle-sided disc or a double-sided disc, (e) detecting whether the discis formatted, (f) displaying the size of the disc cartridge, whether thedisc is a single-sided disc or a double-sided disc, and whether the discis formatted as the sensed results of the above steps (a), (c), (d), and(e), (g) detecting whether a recording surface of the disc is sensed,(h) detecting whether information is to be recorded on the disc orreproduced from the disc, and (i) recording and/or reproducing theinformation on and/or from the disc according to the sensed results.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The above and other objects and advantages will be more apparentby describing preferred embodiments in greater detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings of which:

[0025]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an opticalrecording/reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0026]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the opticalrecording/reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1 assembled;

[0027]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a main portion ofthe optical recording/reproducing apparatus according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a smaller disc cartridgewhich is receivable by the tray of the optical recording/reproducingapparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0029]FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the smaller disccartridge in FIG. 4;

[0030]FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a 12 cm disc cartridge positioned ona tray of the optical recording/reproducing apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention;

[0031]FIG. 7 is a sectional side elevation view of the opticalrecording/reproducing apparatus in a state as shown in FIG. 6;

[0032]FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of an area A shown in FIG. 7;

[0033]FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a smaller disc cartridge positionedon the tray of the optical recording/reproducing apparatus according tothe embodiment of the present invention;

[0034]FIG. 10 is a sectional side elevation view of the opticalrecording/reproducing apparatus in a state as shown in FIG. 9;

[0035]FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of an area B shown in FIG. 10;

[0036]FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of an area C shown in FIG. 10;

[0037]FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing an operation of a slideremployed in the optical recording/reproducing apparatus according to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0038]FIGS. 14A and 14B are flow charts for illustrating a method ofrecording/reproducing information using an optical recording/reproducingapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0039] Reference will now made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer tothe like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below inorder to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

[0040] FIGS. 1 to 3 show an optical recording/reproducing apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. In these figures, areference numeral 10 is a case, and 20 is a tray. The tray 20 is mountedto the case 10 and is capable of being received/withdrawn into/from thecase 10. One of different kinds of disc cartridges having differentsizes, i.e., either a disc cartridge 200 for accommodating a disc havinga diameter of 12 cm (hereinafter called a 12 cm disc cartridge), or asmaller disc cartridge 210 (hereinafter sometimes called an 8 cm disccartridge) for accommodating a disc having a diameter of 8 cm isselectively positioned on the tray 20. Support means is provided to thetray 20 to support the disc cartridges 200 and 210 in accordance withthe sizes of the disc cartridges 200 and 210 so that the disc cartridges200 and 210 are prevented from moving while selectively positioned onthe tray 20.

[0041] Further, the optical recording/reproducing apparatus of thepresent invention includes a detecting section for detecting the size ofthe 12 cm and smaller disc cartridges 200 and 210, and the states ofdiscs d and d′ accommodated therein, respectively, means for rotatingthe discs d and d′ (see FIGS. 7, 8, 10, 12, and 13) accommodated in the12 cm and smaller disc cartridges positioned on the tray 20, and meansfor recording/reproducing information on/from the discs d and d′ rotatedby the rotating means. The optical recording/reproducing apparatus ofthe present invention further includes means for opening/closingshutters 202 and 220 (see FIGS. 4, 6, and 9) respectively mounted on the12 cm and smaller disc cartridges 200 and 210 in response to thereceiving/withdrawing of the tray into/from the case 10, and means forpressing hubs of the discs d and d′ accommodated in the respective disccartridges 200 and 210 so as to chuck the discs d and d′ onto therotating means.

[0042] Hereinafter, a construction of the optical recording/reproducingapparatus according to the present invention will be described ingreater detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 13.

[0043]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a smaller disc cartridge 210positioned on the tray 210 of the optical recording/reproducingapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.5 is an enlarged sectional view of the smaller disc cartridge 210 shownin FIG. 4.

[0044] As shown, the smaller disc cartridge 210 has a cartridge case212, and an opening cover 214. An accommodating hole 212 a with anopening 212 b are formed extending through an upper and a lower side ofthe cartridge case 212. The opening cover 214 is pivotally coupled tothe cartridge case 212 and prevents a separation of the disc d′ (notshown in the drawing) from the smaller disc cartridge 210.

[0045] A piercing hole 212 c and a plurality of second sensor holes 212d are formed at a rear corner area of the cartridge case 212.Additionally, fitting holes 214 a corresponding to the piercing hole 212c and the second sensor holes 212 d are formed on the opening cover 214.

[0046] The second sensor holes 212 d may include a hole for detectingwhether the disc d′ accommodated in the cartridge case 212 has beenexchanged (withdrawn from the cartridge case 212), a hole for detectingwhether the disc d′ is a single-sided disc or a double-sided disc, and ahole for detecting whether the disc d′ is formatted, for example.

[0047] A diffusion lens 216 of a transparent material is disposed at thefitting holes 214 a of the opening cover 214. The diffusion lens 216 hasinsert portions 216 a respectively inserted into the fitting holes 214a, and connectors 216 b for connecting respective insert portions 216 a.A light receiving plate 218 is disposed at each of second sensor holes212 d of the cartridge case 212, to open/close the second sensor holes212 d at a user's will. The light receiving plate 218 is manuallyoperated.

[0048] The 12 cm disc cartridge has an accommodating hole 200 a with anopening 200 b formed extending through an upper and lower side of the 12cm disc cartridge 200 (see FIG. 6) and will be described in greaterdetail later on.

[0049] Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the tray 20 has a centerhole 20 a, and a feeding hole 20 b at a bottom thereof. The center hole20 a is aligned with the accommodating holes 200 a and 212 a and thefeeding hole 20 b is aligned with the openings 200 b and 212 b of the 12cm and smaller disc cartridges 200 and 210. The feeding hole 20 bcommunicates with the center hole 20 a. The feeding hole 20 b is thespace where a pickup base 96 moves and the center hole 20 a is the spacein which a turn table 92 is inserted. Also, the accommodating holes 200a, 212 a are for the turn table 92 and the openings 200 b, 212 b are forthe pickup base 96. Due to the presence of the center hole 20 a and thefeeding hole 20 b, the discs d and d′ are exposed to therecording/reproducing means when the shutters 202 and 220 of therespective disc cartridges 200 and 210 are opened by shutteropening/closing means. It is preferable that the accommodating hole 212a and the opening 212 b of the smaller disc cartridge 210 have the samediameter and width with those of the accommodating hole 200 a and theopening 200 b of the 12 cm disc cartridge 200.

[0050] In addition, a guide part 22 is provided at an end of the feedinghole 20 b of the tray 20, having a predetermined height. A pair of guideapertures 20 c and 20 k are respectively formed at both sides of theguide part 22.

[0051] A plurality of first and second detecting holes 20 d and 20 e areformed at a corner area of the tray 20 and first and second positioningpin holes 20 f and 20 g each are formed at both corner areas of the tray20. A pair of rectangular coupling holes 20 i having guide rails 20 hare formed between the first and the second positioning pin holes 20 fand 20 g and the guide apertures 20 c and 20 k. Adjacent to the couplingholes 20 i, a pair of penetrating holes 20 j are formed.

[0052] The guide part 22 is provided with a press member 24. The pressmember 24 contacts and presses a side of both the 12 cm and smaller disccartridges 200 and 210 positioned on the tray 20. Holding members 36 areinstalled in the coupling holes 20 i and hold the smaller disc cartridge210 from both sides thereof so as to prevent the movement of the smallerdisc cartridge 210 while the same is positioned on the tray 20.Additionally, horizontality members 42, respectively mounted in thepenetrating holes 20 j, maintain the horizontality of the smaller disccartridge 210 with respect to the bottom of the tray 20 when the smallerdisc cartridge 210 is positioned on the tray 20.

[0053] The press member 24 has a press slider 26, press portions 26 a,hooks 28, and a pair of press rods 30. The press portions 26 a areformed at both sides of the press slider 26 to press a side of the 12 cmdisc cartridge 200. The hooks 28 are formed at respective lower sides ofthe press portions 26 a and inserted into the guide apertures 20 c and20 k of the tray 20. The press rods 30 are movably installed at bothsides of the press slider 26 and press a side of the smaller disccartridge 210 when the same is positioned on the tray 20.

[0054] The press rods 30 have contact portions 30 b. Grooves 30 a areformed around the respective circumferential of the press rods 30 andE-rings 32 are disposed around the grooves 30 a. Thus, the press rods 30are never completely separated from the press sliders 26. Additionally,first coil springs 34 are disposed around the press rods 30 to returnthe press rods 30 to the initial position. Here, the respective contactportions 30 b of the press rods 30 are moved along the guide apertures20 c and 20 k formed at the bottom of the tray 20. Thus, the 12 cm disccartridge 200 and/or smaller disc cartridge 210 are supported by, andproperly positioned on the tray 20.

[0055] Additionally, the holding members 36 respectively have holderbrackets 40 movably disposed at the coupling holes 20 i, respectively.The coupling holes 20 i are formed at the middle of the sides of thetray 20. The holder brackets 40 respectively have guide pieces 38 formedwith guide grooves into which guide rails 20 h of the coupling holes 20i are inserted. A leading edge of each of the guide pieces 38 is slantedto prevent a possible interference that would occur with a lower surfaceof the 12 cm disc cartridge 200 when the 12 cm disc cartridge 200 ispositioned on the tray 20.

[0056] Further, each horizontality member 42 has a bracket 46, a bracketshaft 48, and a second coil spring 50. The brackets 46 are fixed to alower surface of the tray 20 by screws 44. The bracket shafts 48 aremovably disposed on the brackets 46, capable of being moved upward anddownward. The second coil springs 50 elastically support the bracketshafts 48 upwardly. Leading edges of the bracket shafts 48 pass throughthe piercing holes 20 j of the tray 20 and protrude therefrom. The uppersides of the bracket shafts 48 protruded from the piercing holes 20 jare then inserted into the position holes 212 e (see FIG. 10) formed atthe lower surface of the smaller disc cartridge 210. Thus, thehorizontality of the smaller disc cartridge 210 is maintained.

[0057] Meanwhile, the detecting section has a first cartridge part, anda second cartridge part. The first cartridge part detects the state ofthe disc d accommodated in the 12 cm disc cartridge 200, and the secondcartridge part detects the state of the disc d′ accommodated in thesmaller disc cartridge 210.

[0058] The first cartridge part has a plurality of sense switches 52.The sense switches 52 pass through the first detecting holes 20 d formedin the tray 20 and then inserted into first sensor holes 200 c (see FIG.6) of the 12 cm disc cartridge 200. Here, the first sensor holes 200 cmay have a cartridge sensor hole, and a plurality of disc state sensorholes, for example. In this case, the cartridge sensor hole is in theclosed state, and the disc state sensor holes are open/closed inaccordance with the state of the disc.

[0059] The sense switches 52 are attached to the deck base 60, and havea first sense switch 52 a for sensing the types of the cartridges, andsecond sensor switches 52 b for sensing the state of the disc. In aninitial state that the cartridge is not yet mounted to the tray 20, thesense switches 52 are in an “off” state. Then, when the cartridge 200 ispositioned on the tray 20 and advanced into the case 10 of the body, thedeck base 60 is raised and accordingly, the sense switches 52 arerespectively inserted into the first sensor holes 200 c through aplurality of the first sensor holes 20 d which are formed at the tray20. In such a situation, since the cartridge sensor hole is in theclosed state, the first sense switch 52 a is pressed by the cartridge sothat the first sensor switch 52 is turned to the “on” state.Consequently, it is detected that the cartridge is the 12 cm disccartridge.

[0060] The second cartridge part has at least one leaf switch 64, and aphoto-sensor 54. The leaf switch 64 is attached to the deck base 60,while being exposed through the guide apertures 20 c and 20 k of thetray 20. The leaf switch 64 senses the size of the smaller disccartridge 210. The photo-sensor 54 senses the state of the disc d′accommodated in the smaller disc cartridge 210. Here, the leaf switch 64is selectively turned on/off to detect the size of the smaller disccartridge 210. More specifically, when the contact portions 30 b of thepress rods 30 which are moved along the guide apertures 20 c and 20 kselectively come in contact with the leaf switch 64, the leaf switch 64is accordingly turned on/off. It is determined that the cartridge is thesmaller disc cartridge when the leaf switch 64 is in “on” state.

[0061] The photo-sensor 54 has a light emitting element 56 a, lightreceiving elements 56 b, and a circuit board 58 (see FIG. 8). The lightemitting element 56 a projects a laser beam toward the diffusion lens216 through the second detecting holes 20 e and the piercing hole 212 cof the smaller disc cartridge case 212. Here, the diffusion lens 216 isinserted into the fitting holes 214 a of the opening cover 214. Thelight receiving elements 56 b are disposed at the positionscorresponding to the second sensor holes 212 d of the smaller disccartridge 210, to receive the laser beam transmitted to the secondsensor holes 212 d along the diffusion lens 216. The light emittingelement 56 a and the light receiving elements 56 b are attached to thecircuit board 58 which electrically detects the laser beam received bythe light receiving elements 56 b.

[0062] A holder 114 is integrally formed on the circuit board 58. Theholder 114 has a predetermined height so that it surrounds the lightreceiving element 56 b. Due to the presence of the holder 114, the laserbeam transmitted to the light receiving element 56 b via the diffusionlens 216 is not diffused to the other neighboring light receivingelements 56 b, so that the malfunction of the light receiving elements56 b is prevented.

[0063] As described, according to the optical recording/reproducingapparatus of the present invention, it is detected that the cartridge isthe 12 cm disc cartridge when the first sense switch 52 a in “on” state.Also, the cartridge is detected as the 8 cm disc cartridge when the leafswitch 64 is turned “on”. The state of the disc received in the 12 cm or8 cm disc cartridge is detected through a plurality of the second senseswitches 52 b and the photo-sensor 54.

[0064] According to the present invention, not only the 12 cm or 8 cmdisc cartridge, but also a naked disc can be positioned on the tray tobe used. In this case, it is detected as the naked disc when the firstsense switch 52 a and the leaf switch 64 are in “off” state. Since thereis no cartridge case, the first sense switch 52 a and the leaf switch 64are not pressed when the disc is positioned in the case. Accordingly,the first sense switch 52 a and the leaf switch 64 are in “off” state.

[0065] Further, an adapter accommodating the 8 cm disc and forpermitting use of 8 cm disc in the optical recording/reproducingapparatus for 12 cm disc, can be mounted on the tray to be used, and inthis case, the adapter is automatically detected. A third sensor switch(not shown in the reference drawings) for detecting the adapter isadditionally provided. The third sense switch is such placed tocorrespond to an A3 sensor hole formed at the adapter. The A3 sensorhole is in open state. Accordingly, when the adapter is used, the thirdsense switch is inserted into the A3 sensor hole of the adapter. In thepresent invention, we set the state that the third sense switch isinserted into the A3 sensor hole as “off” state, and when the thirdsense switch is turned to the “off” state, it is detected that theadapter is positioned on the tray and inserted into the case.

[0066] As described, according to the present invention, 12 cm disccartridge, 8 cm disc cartridge, the naked disc, or the adapter isautomatically detected through a plurality of sense switchescorresponding thereto which were set to have “on/off” state.

[0067] Additionally, a pair of first positioning pins 62 pass throughthe respective first positioning pin holes 20 f, and protrude from thedeck base 60 to determine the position of the 12 cm disc cartridge 200on the tray 20. The first positioning pins 62 are inserted into insertholes 200 d (see FIGS. 7 and 8) which are formed on the 12 cm disccartridge, to position the 12 cm disc cartridge.

[0068] Meanwhile, a rotational bracket 68 is disposed at the case 10 bya hinge pin 70. The rotational bracket 68 has a pair of secondpositioning pins 66 which determine the position of the smaller disccartridge 210 on the tray 20. The second positioning pins 66 areinserted into insert holes 212 f (see FIGS. 10 and 12) which are formedon the smaller disc cartridge 210, to position the smaller disccartridge 210.

[0069] The rotational bracket 68 is rotated upward/downward byrotational driving means driven in response to the photo-sensor 54 whichdetects the disc d′ of the smaller disc cartridge 210.

[0070] The rotational bracket driving means has a slider 80, a drivingmotor 82, and a power transmitter to transmit the driving power of thedriving motor 82 to the slider 80.

[0071] A pair of slanted slots 80 a are formed at both sides of theslider 80 into which insert protrusions 68 a protruding from both sidesof the rotational bracket 68 are inserted. The slider 80 is formed witha pair of guide holes 80 b at a bottom thereof into which guideprotrusions 12 protruding from the case 10 are respectively inserted.The slider 80 has a coupling slot 80 d formed with a rack gear 80 c atits inner circumferential surface. The coupling slot 80 d is formed at arear side of the slider 80.

[0072] The power transmitter has a gear 84, a worm gear 86, and a worm88. The gear 84 passes through the coupling slot 80 d to be engaged withthe rack gear 80 c, and the worm gear 86 is integrally formed with thegear 84. The worm gear 86 is engaged with the worm 88, which ispress-fitted to a shaft of the driving motor 82.

[0073] Meanwhile, refer to FIG. 1, the rotating means has a spindlemotor 90 fixed to the deck base 60, and a turn table 92 press-fitted toa shaft of the spindle motor 90. The discs d and d′ accommodated in thedisc cartridges 200 and 210 are selectively loaded on the turn table 92.

[0074] Further, the recording/reproducing means has the pickup base 96,and the optical head 98. The pickup base 96 is linearly and reciprocallymoved along a pair of guide rods 94 provided on the deck base 60 inparallel relation with each other. The optical head 98 is provided to anupper portion of the pickup base 96, and records/reproduces theinformation on/from the discs d and d′ by projecting the laser beam ontothe recording surface thereof.

[0075] Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the shutter opening/closingmeans has a link 102, an opening protrusion 104 as shown in FIG. 6, anda torsion spring (not shown). The link 102 is pivotally disposed at alower surface of an upper cover 100, and the opening protrusion 104protrudes from an end of the link 102. The shutters 202 and 220 mountedon the disc cartridges 200 and 210, respectively, are opened by means ofthe opening protrusion 104. The torsion spring (not shown) is installedat the other end of the link 102 so as to return the link 102 to aninitial position.

[0076] The chucking means has a lever 110, and a damper 112 as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The lever 110 is caulked onto an upper surface of theupper cover 100, and the damper 112 presses the discs d and d′ onto theturn table 92.

[0077] Hereinbelow, an operation of an optical recording/reproducingoptical apparatus constructed as described above according to thepresent invention will be described in greater detail with respect toFIGS. 6 through 14b.

[0078] When an ejecting button (not shown) provided at a front side ofthe case 10 is pushed, a loading motor (not shown) installed inside thecase 10 rotates. Then, the tray 20 is ejected outward from the case 10.In such a situation, one of the 12 cm and smaller disc cartridges 200and 210, or a naked disc (a disc without a disc cartridge) is positionedon the tray 20.

[0079] FIGS. 6 to 8 show the 12 cm disc cartridge 200 positioned on thetray 20. As shown in the figures, when the 12 cm disc cartridge 200 ispositioned on the tray 20, a lower surface of the 12 cm disc cartridge200 is in close contact with the bottom of the tray 20. Also, the 12 cmdisc cartridge 200 is supported by the press portions 26 a of the presssliders 26 disposed behind the 12 cm disc cartridge 200. Thus, themovement of the 12 cm disc cartridge 200 is prevented.

[0080] In such a situation, as the 12 cm disc cartridge 200 is insertedinto the tray 20, the contact portions 30 b of the press rods 30 arepushed backward along the guide apertures 20 c and 20 k. Further, thebracket shaft 48 whose predetermined end has been protruded from thepiercing holes 20 j of the tray 20, is now moved downward by contactwith the lower surface of the 12 cm disc cartridge 200.

[0081] Then, as the eject button is pushed again, the loading motor isreversely rotated, so that the tray 20 on which the 12 cm disc cartridge200 is positioned is advanced into the case 10 (Step S101). At thistime, the shutter 202 mounted on the 12 cm disc cartridge 200 contactswith the opening protrusion 104 of the link 102 which is disposed on theupper cover 100. Accordingly, the shutter 202 is moved in one direction,so that the accommodating hole 200 a and the opening 200 b are opened.

[0082] When the tray 20 is completely advanced into the case 10, asshown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the deck base 60 is elevated. Accordingly,the turn table 92 is advanced into the accommodating hole 200 a of the12 cm disc cartridge 200, so that the disc d is loaded thereon. Further,the first positioning pins 62 pass through the first positioning pinholes 20 f of the tray 20, and then are inserted into the insertapertures (not shown) of the 12 cm disc cartridge 200. By doing so, theposition of the 12 cm disc cartridge is determined, and thehorizontality of the 12 cm disc cartridge 200 with respect to the bottomof the tray 20 is maintained.

[0083] Simultaneously, an end of the lever 110 caulked to the uppercover 100 is moved downward subsequent to the advancing of the tray 20into the case 10. Subsequently, the damper 112 is advanced into theupper accommodating hole 200 a of the 12 cm disc cartridge 200 to pressthe hub of the disc d and chuck the disc d onto the turn table 92.

[0084] In such a situation, it is checked whether the third sense switchis in “on” state (Step S102), and if yes, it is detected that the disccartridge or the naked disc is positioned (Step S103), and if not, it isdetected that the adapter is positioned (Step S104).

[0085] After the step 103 (S103), it is detected whether the disccartridge or the naked disc is positioned. In this case, when the firstsense switch and the leaf switch are in the “off” state, it is detectedthat the naked disc is positioned (Step S106). If not, it is detectedthat the disc cartridge is positioned (Step S107).

[0086] Here, when the first sense switch is in the “on” state (StepS108), it is determined that the disc cartridge is the 12 cm disccartridge (Step S109). If the leaf switch is in “on” state (Step S110),it is detected that the disc cartridge is the 8 cm disc cartridge (StepS111).

[0087] After detecting the disc cartridge or the naked disc, the pickupbase 96 having the optical head 98 mounted to the pickup base 96 ismoved to an initial position (Step S112). In such a situation, by othersense switches which are selectively inserted into the first sensorholes of the disc cartridge 200, the states of the disc d is detected.For example, there may be a recording surface sense switch which isturned “on/off” (Step S113) so as to detect whether the disc issingle-sided or double-sided (Steps S114 and S115). Also, there may be aformat sense switch to be turned “on/off” (Step S116) so as to detectwhether the disc is formatted or not (Steps S117 and S118).

[0088] After the size, recording surface, formatted status or the likeare detected as above, the result thereof are displayed to the user forchecking (Step S119). Then, it is detected whether to verify therecording surface of the disc or not (Steps S120 and S121). Then, it isdetected whether the information is recorded or not (Steps S122, S123,and S124), the selected conditions are detected, and the information isrecorded and/or reproduced on/from the disc in accordance with theselected conditions (Step S125).

[0089] Here, when the adapter is detected, the process is performed fromthe step 112 (S112) after the step 104 (S104). Then when the disc isdetected (Step S106), the pickup is moved to the initial position (StepS106 a), it is detected whether the disc is single-sided or double-sided(Step S106 b), and the recording is performed (Step S106 c). In suchsituation, whether the disc is single-sided or not is detected by thepickup which reads a reading area of the disc. More specifically, thepickup reads the data about A and B sides which is recorded on thereading area of the disc.

[0090] FIGS. 9 to 13 show the situation in which the smaller disccartridge 210 is positioned on the tray 20, and the information isrecorded/reproduced on/from the disc d′ thereof. In the figures, thesmaller disc cartridge 210 is positioned on the tray 20, pushing thepress rods 30 provided to the press slider 26 backward. In thissituation, the bracket shaft 48 whose one end is protruded from thepiercing hole 20 j of the tray 20 is inserted into the insert hole ofthe smaller disc cartridge 210. Also, the press rods 30 which have beenpushed backward are moved toward the cartridge case 212 of the smallerdisc cartridge 210 by the restoring force of the first coil spring 34.Accordingly, the movement of the disc cartridge 210 is prevented.

[0091] Then, the holder brackets 40 disposed at the coupling holes 20 iof the tray 20 are pressed in a lateral direction. Accordingly, theholder brackets 40 are moved inward with respect to the tray 20 alongthe guide rails 20 h into which the guide pieces 38 are inserted, andthen press both sides of the case 212 of the disc cartridge 210. Thus,the movement of the smaller disc cartridge 210 in a lateral direction isprevented.

[0092] In such a situation, when the tray 20 is advanced into the case10, like the process described above, the shutter 220 of the smallerdisc cartridge 210 is moved toward one direction by the openingprotrusion 104 of the link 102. Then, by the deck base 60 which iselevated, the turn table 92 is moved upward and advanced into theaccommodating hole 212 a of the disc cartridge 210 and the disc d′ ispositioned thereon. At this time, as shown in FIG. 11, the leaf switch64 attached to the deck base 60 contacts with the contact portions 30 bof the press rods 30, and detects that the disc cartridge positioned onthe tray 20 is the smaller disc cartridge 210. With the smaller disccartridge 210 detected, the pickup base 96 having the optical head 98 issimultaneously moved to its initial position.

[0093] When the size of the smaller disc cartridge 210 is detected byusing the leaf switch 64, the driving motor 82 is accordingly rotatedbased on the sensed signal. Simultaneously, the worm 88 coupled to therotary shaft of the driving motor 82 and the worm gear 86 engaged withthe worm 88 are rotated altogether. Also, as the gear 84 engaged withthe rack gear 80 c of the slider 80 is rotated, the slider 80 is movedbackward as shown in FIG. 13. In such a situation, the rotationalbracket 68 coupled to the inner side of the case 10 by the hinge pin 70is elevated as the insert protrusions 68 a protruded from both sides ofthe rotational bracket 68 are moved along the slanted slots 80 a by thelinear movement of the slider 80. Simultaneously, the second positioningpins 66 fixed to the upper surface of the rotational bracket 68 passthrough the second positioning pin holes 20 g of the tray 20, and areinserted into the insert holes of the disc cartridge 210. Accordingly,the position of the smaller disc cartridge 210 with respect to the tray20 is determined.

[0094] After that, the laser beam is radiated from the light emittingelement 56 a which is attached to the circuit board 58 of the deck base60. The laser beam passes through the second detecting hole 20 e of thetray 20 and the piercing hole 212 c of the disc cartridge 210, and tothe diffusion lens 216 inserted into the fitting holes 214 a of theopening cover 214.

[0095] The laser beam is then received in the light receiving element 56b through the sensor hole 212 d and the second detecting hole 20 e.Accordingly, the state of the disc is detected.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 12, the laser beam radiated from the lightemitting element 56 a attached to the circuit board 58 is radiated tothe insert portion 216 a of the diffusion lens 216 while passing throughthe piecing hole 212 c of the disc cartridge case 212. The laser beamradiated to the insert portions 216 a is branched off to a plurality ofbeams which are respectively transmitted to the connectors 216 b, whichare linking the insert portions 216 a with other ones of the insertportions 216 a. Such transmitted laser beams are received in the lightreceiving element 56 b formed at the position corresponding to thesecond sensor holes 212 d and the second detecting holes 20 e, afterpassing through the second sensor holes 212 d and the second detectingholes 20 e. Accordingly, it is automatically determined whether the discaccommodated in the disc cartridge is a single-sided disc or adouble-sided disc, and formatted or unformatted.

[0097] More specifically, if the light receiving plate 218 movablyattached to the disc cartridge case 212 is manually operated and thusblocks one of the second sensor holes 212 d, then the laser beamradiated through the diffusion lens 216 is not transmitted to the lightreceiving element 56 b. Thus, it is determined that the disc d′ has notbeen drawn out from the disc cartridge 210 even once. If the lightreceiving plate 218 blocks another sensor hole 212 d, then it isdetermined that the disc d′ is a double-sided disc, and if not, the discd′ is determined to be a single-sided disc. Finally, whether the disc d′is formatted is determined by the open/closed state of the other sensorhole 212 d.

[0098] Here, due to the presence of the holder 114 surrounding the lightreceiving elements 56 b, the laser beams are not diffused through theother neighboring light receiving elements 56 b. Accordingly, theprecise detecting of the state of the disc can be guaranteed.

[0099] If a naked disc is positioned onto the tray 20, then the opticalrecording/reproducing apparatus senses such a state, so that it movesthe pickup base 96 disposed with the optical head 98 to the initialposition. Then, it is detected whether the disc is a single-sided discor a double-sided disc, and the information is recorded and/orreproduced on/from a recordable and/or reproducible track of the discd′.

[0100] Meanwhile, there is an A3 sensor hole which is in an open-state.Thus, when the adapter receiving the 8 cm disc d′ is positioned onto thetray 20, the third sense switch is inserted into the A3 sensor hole, andaccordingly it is detected that the adapter for the 8 cm disc ispositioned. The adapter is for accommodating either of the 8 cm or 12 cmdiscs.

[0101] When the adapter is detected through the sense switch, the pickupbase 96 installed along with the optical head 98 is moved to the initialposition. Then, a detection is made whether the disc d′ is single-sidedor double-sided, and the information is recorded/reproduced on/from thedetected available side(s) of the disc d′.

[0102] As described above, according to the opticalrecording/reproducing apparatus of the present invention, since the disccartridges of different sizes, the naked disc, and the adapter receivingthe 8 cm disc can be positioned on only one tray to be used, thecompatibility thereof is enhanced, and the cost is reduced.

[0103] Further, according to the optical recording/reproducing apparatusof the present invention, since the state of the disc accommodated inthe disc cartridge and the adapter positioned on the tray areautomatically detected, and since the operation thereof is automaticallycarried out according to the sensed state of the disc, the time taken torecord/reproduce the information on the disc is shortened, thusproviding a greater convenience to the user.

[0104] While the present invention has been shown and described withreference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may beeffected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An optical recording and/or reproducing apparatusto accommodate disc cartridges of at least two different sizes whichreceive respective discs of different sizes, comprising: a case; a traymounted to the case and receivable into and withdrawable from the case,the tray selectively accommodating the disc cartridges; means forsupporting the disc cartridges positioned on the tray according to sizesof the disc cartridges, so as to prevent movement of the disc cartridgeson the tray; means for detecting the sizes of the disc cartridgespositioned on the tray, and states of the respective discs accommodatedin the disc cartridges; means for rotating the discs in the disccartridges selectively positioned on the tray; and means for recordinginformation on and/or reproducing the information from the discs rotatedby the rotating means.
 2. The optical recording and/or reproducingapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each of the disc cartridgescomprises an accommodating hole, an opening, and a shutter to open/closethe accommodating hole and the opening; and the optical recording and/orreproducing apparatus further comprises means for opening/closing theshutters in response to reception/withdrawal of the tray with respect tothe case.
 3. The optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the respective discs accommodated in thedisc cartridges each have a hub, and the optical recording and/orreproducing apparatus further comprises means for pressing the hubs ofthe discs accommodated in the disc cartridges, to chuck the discs ontothe rotating means.
 4. The optical recording and/or reproducingapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tray has a center hole anda feeding hole corresponding to the accommodating hole and the openingof the two disc cartridges which comprise a first disc cartridge to holda disc having a diameter of 12 cm and a second smaller disc cartridge tohold a disc of a smaller diameter, so that the discs are exposed to therecording and/or reproducing means therethrough.
 5. The opticalrecording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe support means for the disc cartridges comprises: a press member tocontact with, and press a side of a first disc cartridge to hold a dischaving a diameter of 12 cm and a second smaller disc cartridge of the atleast two disc cartridges positioned on the tray; a holding membermechanism to hold both sides of the second smaller disc cartridge, toprevent movement of the second smaller disc cartridge positioned on thetray; and a horizontality member mechanism to maintain a horizontalityof the second smaller disc cartridge with respect to a bottom of thetray.
 6. The optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimedin claim 5, wherein: the tray comprises a guide groove; and the pressmember comprises a press slider disposed on the tray, the press sliderhaving a pair of hooks to be inserted into the guide groove of the tray,a pair of press portions integrally formed at first and second sides ofthe press slider, to press the side of the first disc cartridge, a pairof press rods movably disposed within respective inner sides of thepress portions of the press slider, and linearly movable, the press rodsto press a side of the second smaller disc cartridge positioned on thetray, and a pair of coil springs to elastically support the press rodstoward initial positions, respectively.
 7. The optical recording and/orreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein: the tray furthercomprises coupling holes formed at both middle sides thereof; and theholding member mechanism comprises a pair of holder brackets movablydisposed at the coupling holes, respectively, to contact with oppositesides of the smaller disc cartridge positioned on the tray, wherein theholder brackets have guide pieces, and upper ends of the guide piecesare slanted to prevent interference occurring with a lower surface ofthe first disc cartridge.
 8. The optical recording and/or reproducingapparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein: the second smaller disccartridge has a pair of insert holes; the tray further comprises a pairof piercing holes; and each of the horizontality members comprise: abracket fixed to a lower surface of the tray, a bracket shaft movablydisposed upward and downward on the bracket to selectively protrudethrough a corresponding one of the piercing holes so that the bracketshaft is inserted into the insert holes formed at a lower surface of thesecond smaller disc cartridge, and a coil spring to elastically supportthe bracket shaft upward.
 9. The optical recording and/or reproducingapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting means comprises:first detecting means for detecting a size of a first disc cartridge ofthe at least two disc cartridges to hold a disc having a diameter of 12cm and a state of the disc accommodated therein; and second detectingmeans for detecting a size of a second smaller disc cartridge of the atleast two disc cartridges to hold a disc having a smaller diameter andthe state of a disc accommodated therein.
 10. The optical recordingand/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:a deck base; wherein, the first disc cartridge has a plurality of sensorholes; and the first detecting means comprises a plurality of firstdetecting holes formed on the tray corresponding to the sensor holes ofthe first disc cartridge; and at least one sense switch attached to thedeck base, to be inserted into the sensor holes of the first disccartridge through the first detecting holes.
 11. The optical recordingand/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:a deck base; wherein the detecting means comprises first detecting meansfor detecting a size of a first disc cartridge of the at least two disccartridges to hold a disc having a diameter of 12 cm and a state of thedisc accommodated therein, and second detecting means for detecting asize of a second smaller disc cartridge of the at least two disccartridges and a state of a disc having a smaller diameter accommodatedtherein; the tray has guide grooves and a pair of piercing holes; thesecond smaller disc cartridge has a plurality of sensor holes; thesecond detecting means comprises at least one leaf switch attached tothe deck base, exposed through the guide grooves of the tray, the leafswitch detecting the size of the second smaller disc cartridgepositioned on the tray by selectively contacting with the contactportions of the press rods which are moved along the guide grooves, andin response, turn on/off, a plurality of second detecting holes formedon the tray corresponding to the sensor holes of the second smaller disccartridge, and a photo-sensor attached to the deck base, to detect thestate of the disc by radiating a laser beam through the second detectingholes to the sensor holes of the second smaller disc cartridge, and toreceive the laser beam radiated through the second detecting holes tothe sensor holes of the second smaller disc cartridge.
 12. The opticalrecording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein:the second smaller disc cartridge has a body and an opening cover, theopening cover having a fitting hole and a diffusion lens inserted intothe fitting hole; the photo-sensor comprises a light emitting element toradiate the laser beam to the diffusion lens inserted into the fittinghole of the opening cover through one of the second detecting holes ofthe tray and one of the piercing holes of the second smaller disccartridge, a plurality of light receiving elements disposed at positionscorresponding to the sensor holes of the second smaller disc cartridge,the light receiving elements to receive the laser beams transmitted tothe sensor holes of the second smaller disc cartridge via the diffusionlens, and a circuit board to which the light emitting element and thelight receiving elements are attached and supported, the circuit boardto electrically detect received laser beams received by the lightreceiving elements.
 13. The optical recording and/or reproducingapparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the light receiving plate isdisposed at the respective sensor holes of the second smaller disccartridge to open/close the sensor holes, to control the detecting ofthe state of the disc accommodated in the second smaller disc cartridgeaccording to movement thereof by a user.
 14. The optical recordingand/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of thelight receiving elements is surrounded by a respective holder having apredetermined height, so that the laser beams are not diffused throughother neighboring ones of the light receiving elements.
 15. The opticalrecording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe rotating means comprises: a turn table onto which the discsaccommodated in the disc cartridges are positioned; and a spindle motorto rotatably drive the turn table.
 16. The optical recording and/orreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recordingand/or reproducing means comprises: an optical head; a pickup base onwhich the optical head is disposed; and a pair of guide rods to guidethe pickup base in a radial direction of the discs while thecorresponding disc cartridges are mounted on the tray so that the pickupbase is reciprocally and linearly moved.
 17. The optical recordingand/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:an upper cover coupled to an upper portion of the case and having alower surface; wherein the shutter opening/closing means comprises alink pivotally disposed at the lower surface of the upper cover, andhaving first and second ends, an opening protrusion protruding from thefirst end of the link to contact with respective sides of the shuttersof the disc cartridges upon reception of the tray within the case, and aspring disposed at the second end of the link, to return the link to aninitial position, wherein the link is pivoted in response to movement ofthe tray with respect to the case.
 18. The optical recording and/orreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: anupper cover coupled to an upper portion of the case; wherein thechucking means comprises a lever fixed to the upper cover, and having anend, and a clamper mounted on the end of the lever, to press hubs of thediscs accommodated in the disc cartridges closely to the rotating means.19. The optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed inclaim 12, further comprising a plurality of holders formed on thecircuit board, respectively surrounding the plurality of light receivingelements, to prevent the light beam from being diffused via thediffusion lens away from an intended one of the light receiving elementsto another one of the light receiving elements.
 20. The opticalrecording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising an adapter sense switch, wherein an adapter for one of thedisc cartridges includes an adapter sensor hole, said adapter senseswitch sensing the adapter sensor hole to determine if the adapter ismounted on the tray.
 21. An optical recording and/or reproducingapparatus to accommodate first and second disc cartridges of differentsizes, wherein the first and second disc cartridges hold first andsecond discs of different sizes, the optical recording and/orreproducing apparatus comprising: a case; a tray to selectivelyaccommodate and maintain in place thereon the first and second disccartridges of different sizes; and an optical pickup to reproduceinformation stored on the first or second disc based upon which one ofthe first and second disc cartridges is mounted on the tray.
 22. Theoptical recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 21,further comprising: a detection unit to determine which one of the firstand second disc cartridges is mounted on the tray, and whether the firstor second disc is accommodated within the one disc cartridge mounted onthe tray.
 23. The optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus asclaimed in claim 22, wherein: the tray has a plurality of firstdetecting holes and a plurality of second detecting holes; and a pressmember to press a side of the first or second disc cartridge dependingupon which one of the first and second disc cartridges is mounted on thetray; the first disc cartridge has a plurality of first sensor holes;the second disc cartridge has a plurality of second sensor holes; thedetection unit comprises a first detecting part including a plurality offirst detecting holes formed on the tray corresponding to the firstsensor holes, at least one sense switch to be inserted into theplurality of first sensor holes through the first detecting holes, todetermine whether the first disc cartridge is mounted on the tray andwhether the first disc is accommodated within the first disc cartridge;and a second detecting part including a plurality of second detectingholes formed on the tray corresponding to the second sensor holes, atleast one leaf switch to contact the press member if the second disccartridge is mounted on the tray, and a photo-sensor to radiate a lightbeam through the second detecting holes and to the second sensor holes,to detect whether the second disc is accommodated within the second disccartridge.
 24. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed inclaim 23, wherein: the at least one sense switch determines whether thefirst disc is single or double-sided, whether the first disc isformatted; and the photo-sensor determines whether the second disc issingle or double-sided and whether the second disc is formatted.
 25. Therecording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, whereinthe tray selectively accommodates the first and second discs without thecorresponding first and second disc cartridges and an adapter whichreceives the second disc.
 26. The recording and/or reproducing apparatusas claimed in claim 21, wherein the first disc has a diameter of 12 cmand the second disc has a diameter of 8 cm.
 27. The recording and/orreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the detection unitdetermines whether the first or second disc is mounted on the traywithout the corresponding first or second disc cartridge.
 28. Therecording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 23, whereinoutputs of the at least one sense switch and the at least one leafswitch determine whether the first or second disc is mounted on the traywithout the corresponding first or second disc cartridge, respectively.29. An optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus to accommodatedisc cartridges of at least two different sizes which receive respectivediscs of different sizes, comprising: a case; a tray mounted to the caseand receivable into and withdrawable from the case, the tray selectivelyaccommodating the disc cartridges; means for supporting the disccartridges positioned on the tray according to the sizes of the disccartridges, so as to prevent a movement of the disc cartridges on thetray; first positioning means for determining a first position of afirst disc cartridge of the at least two disc cartridges which holds adisc having a diameter of 12 cm on the tray and positioning the firstdisc cartridge at a predetermined position thereof; first detectingmeans for detecting a size of the first disc cartridge positioned by thefirst positioning means, and a state of the disc accommodated in thefirst disc cartridge; second positioning means for determining a secondposition of a second smaller disc cartridge of the at least two disccartridges which holds a disc having a diameter less than 12 cm on thetray and positioning the second smaller disc cartridge at apredetermined position thereof; second detecting means for detecting asize of the second smaller disc cartridge positioned by the secondpositioning means, and a state of the disc accommodated in the secondsmaller disc cartridge; means for rotating the discs accommodated in therespective first and second smaller disc cartridges selectivelypositioned on the tray; and means for recording information on and/orreproducing information from the discs rotated by the rotating means.30. The optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed inclaim 29, further comprising: a deck base; wherein the first disccartridge has a plurality of insert holes; and the first positioningmeans comprises a pair of first positioning pin holes formed on the traycorresponding to the insert holes of the first disc cartridge, and apair of first positioning pins disposed on the deck base to be insertedinto the insert holes of the first disc cartridge after passing throughthe first positioning pin holes.
 31. The optical recording and/orreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 29, further comprising: a deckbase; wherein the second smaller disc cartridge has a plurality ofinsert holes; and the second positioning means comprises a pair ofsecond positioning pin holes formed on the tray corresponding to theinsert holes of the second smaller disc cartridge, a rotational bracketmounted to the case by a hinge pin, the rotational bracket having a pairof second positioning pins to be inserted into the insert holes of thesecond smaller disc cartridge after passing through the secondpositioning pin holes, and means for rotating the rotational bracketupward and downward; wherein the rotational bracket rotating meansautomatically operates in response to signals sensed by the seconddetecting means, to move the rotational bracket.
 32. The opticalrecording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein:the case has a bottom from which guide protrusions protrude, and therotating means comprises a slider to be reciprocally and linearly movedalong the guide protrusions; a driving motor to provide a driving powerfor the slider, and turned on/off in accordance with the signals sensedby the second detecting means, and a power transmitter to transmit thedriving power from the driving motor to the slider.
 33. The opticalrecording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein:the rotational bracket has insert protrusions formed at opposite sidesthereof; and the slider comprises a pair of slanted slots into which theinsert protrusions are respectively inserted, a pair of guide groovesinto which the guide protrusions are inserted, a coupling slot formed ata rear portion of the slider and having an inner circumferentialsurface, and a rack gear formed at the inner circumferential surface ofthe coupling slot.
 34. The optical recording and/or reproducingapparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein: the driving motor includes ashaft; and the power transmitter comprises a gear inserted into thecoupling slot of the slider and engaged with the rack gear, a worm gearintegrally formed with the gear, and a worm press-fitted to the shaft ofthe driving motor, to be engaged with the worm gear.
 35. A method ofrecording and/or reproducing information using an optical recordingand/or reproducing apparatus, comprising the steps of: (a) detectingwhether a disc cartridge received in a tray of the optical recordingand/or reproducing apparatus is positioned; (b) moving a recordingand/or reproducing means to an initial position when the disc cartridgeis positioned in the step (a); (c) detecting a size of the disccartridge positioned on the tray; (d) detecting whether a discaccommodated in the disc cartridge is a single-sided disc or adouble-sided disc; (e) detecting whether the disc is formatted; (f)displaying the size of the disc cartridge, whether the disc is thesingle-sided disc or the double-sided disc, and formatted orunformatted, in accordance with the sensed results of the steps (a),(c), (d), and (e); (g) determining whether a recording surface of thedisc is detected; (h) detecting whether the information is to berecorded on the disc or reproduced from the disc; and (i) recordingand/or reproducing the information on and/or from the disc according tothe sensed results in the steps (g) and (h).
 36. A method of recordinginformation on and/or reproducing the information from an optical disc,comprising the steps of: (a) detecting whether a disc cartridge ismounted on a tray of a recording and/or reproducing apparatus; (b)determining a size of the disc cartridge mounted on the tray and whetherthe optical disc is accommodated within the disc cartridge; and (c)recording the information on or reproducing the information from theoptical disc based upon said steps (a) and (b).
 37. The method asclaimed in claim 36, further comprising the steps of: determiningwhether the optical disc is single or double-sided and formatted orunformatted; determining whether a recording surface of the optical dischas been detected; and determining whether the information is to berecorded on or reproduced from the recording surface of the opticaldisc.
 38. The method as claimed in claim 37, further comprising the stepof displaying the size of the disc cartridge mounted on the tray,whether the optical disc is single or double-sided, and whether theoptical disc is formatted or unformatted.